Senior Director of Brand Strategy - Warren Whitney

The Opportunity

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), founded in 1965, is one of the oldest and largest professional organizations for industrial designers. IDSA is a national professional society for industrial designers who create and develop concepts and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of the user and manufacturer.

IDSA is searching for a talented Senior Director of Brand Strategy who will lead the Brand Strategy department and be a key member of IDSA's Management Team. The position plays a vital role in the curation, development, and execution of brand and creative strategies for an organization that strives to continuously improve its position as a trusted resource, sought-after partner, and recognized authority within the global landscape. The Senior Director accomplishes short and long-term objectives through meticulous strategic and tactical planning, and hands-on execution, ensuring their approach is based upon extensive knowledge of best practices and pillars of operational excellence within associations and the marketing and communications professions.

This is a fully remote position, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) with limited travel for IDSA and industry events, media opportunities, and internal staff gatherings throughout the year.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented individual with impeccable written and verbal communication skills, and thrives in fast-paced, high-performance environments. The Senior Director demonstrates a strong executive presence, interacting with high-profile individuals in the community with poise, confidence, and professionalism. Further, they possess a unique ability to elevate IDSA's brand and maximizes the organization's impact. Key areas of oversight and responsibility for this role include marketing, communications, media and public relations, creative oversight, website management, and publication management.

Interested candidates should submit their resume outlining their qualifications and experience with a cover letter and marketing portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Operational Excellence

• Supports senior leadership in strategic planning efforts for a global professional membership association and related 501(c)(3) charitable organization that proudly personifies the creative acumen, spirit, and drive reflective of the industrial design profession.
• Strives to continuously improve IDSA's position as a trusted resource, sought-after partner, and recognized authority within the global landscape.
• Aligns department strategies with IDSA's Strategic Plan when managing day-to-day activities.
• Ensures operational excellence for the department and evaluates the need for new policies, practices and procedures; recommends changes to existing ones.
• Embraces Diversity, Equity and Inclusion priorities and ensures its integration into the department's approach to elevating IDSA's brand.

Financial Management

• Works collaboratively with Finance & Accounting to develop annual budgets and re-forecast projections.
• Reviews monthly financial statements across programs and products, identifies areas of strength and concern. Raises issues with senior leadership; advises on strategies and adjusts tactics to achieve budget goals.
• Assists in the preparation of department related items for annual audits.

Marketing, Communications & Creative Oversight

• Responsible for the execution of all day-to-day activities of the department which includes marketing IDSA and IDSA Design Foundation's brand, programs, products and services, delivery of all communications, creative direction, social media presence, media relations, website management, and publications, including management of the Publication Committee responsible for producing IDSA's flagship INNOVATION Magazine.
• Ensures IDSA and IDSA Design Foundation's voice is professional, respected, and trusted in written and visual communications.
• Designs and implements creative, cutting-edge, integrated, multi-channel, strategies and tactical campaigns for all IDSA strategic objectives and product offerings. Collaborates cross-functionally with other departments to achieve desired results.
• Cultivates partnerships with media outlets and organizations with the goal of raising the association's profile and achieving aggressive goals.
• Oversees IDSA and IDSA Design Foundation websites and microsites, positioning them as preeminent marketing and communications vehicles. Serves as an architect for the content management strategy and user experience. Serves as liaison to IDSA's website developer and consultants. Collaborates with the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Director of Customer Information Systems on technical projects related to AMS integrations and development needs.

Digital Marketing and Social Media Content

• Establishes the creative direction to ensure visually appealing and brand-consistent designs for all marketing materials. The role ensures that all graphic design efforts effectively communicate IDSA's mission and resonate with its target audience.
• Leads the development and production of engaging video content that supports IDSA's marketing and communication goals. The role ensures that video content is innovative, informative, and aligned with IDSA's brand narrative.
• Manages IDSA's presence on LinkedIn, leveraging the platform to connect with industry professionals, share thought leadership content, and promote IDSA's programs and initiatives. This includes utilizing LinkedIn's analytics to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and make data-driven improvements.
• Curates and manages content for IDSA's Instagram account, focusing on visually driven storytelling that highlights the association's activities, events, and member achievements. This includes engaging with the Instagram community to build a strong and active following.
• Remains up to date on the latest digital marketing trends and technologies, incorporating modern platforms and innovative graphics into IDSA's marketing strategies ensuring that the association remains at the forefront of digital marketing practices.

Public Relations

• Drafts, reviews, and distributes press releases that announce significant developments, events, and achievements of IDSA. The role also involves maintaining relationships with media contacts to maximize coverage and visibility.
• Collaborates with the Board President to craft and disseminate official communications. This includes drafting speeches, letters, and announcements that reflect the Board President's voice and the strategic direction of IDSA. The role ensures that these communications are clear, impactful, and reinforce the association's mission and values.
• Supports the CEO in developing and delivering key messages to various stakeholders. This includes preparing speeches, statements, and internal communications that articulate the CEO's vision and priorities. The role ensures that the CEO's communications are consistent, professional, and enhance the overall brand of IDSA. Helps manage the CEO's brand in support of enhancing IDSA's brand quality.
• Oversees the editorial process for IDSA's quarterly digital INNOVATION Magazine. The role involves managing the Publication Committee and working closely with designers and editors to produce a publication that effectively communicates IDSA's thought leadership and industry insights.

Market Research & Insights

• Compiles and releases concise, one-page quarterly research findings that provide valuable insights into industry trends, member needs, and market dynamics. The role ensures that these quarterly updates are timely, relevant, and support IDSA's strategic objectives.
• Oversees the development and publication of an annual research report that offers a comprehensive analysis of the year's findings. This includes coordinating with research teams, synthesizing data from various sources, and crafting a detailed report that highlights significant trends, challenges, and opportunities within the industry.
• Identifies and continuously monitors IDSA's audience personas to ensure that marketing and communication strategies are effectively targeted. The role ensures that IDSA's messaging and outreach efforts are tailored to the needs and preferences of its diverse audience, enhancing engagement and impact.

Leadership & Team Development

• Through effective leadership, promotes and sustains a culture of openness and transparency. Demands a high standard of operational excellence, performance, and continuous improvement while leading their team through creative design stages (including drafting design briefs) and marketing processes that achieve intended outcomes.
• Continually ensures the department's resources are focused on priorities that deliver the greatest impact.
• Establishes goals for department team members; monitors performance and provides consistent feedback.

Analytics and Reporting

• Thoroughly relies on engagement analytics and user data for decision making. Advises and collaborates with senior leadership to determine key performance indicators.
• Ensures the department develops and maintains meaningful and accurate lists according to segmentation objectives.
• Provides reports and presentations to staff, senior leadership, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders as necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher.
• Minimum of 10 or more years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, or related area.
• 7 or more years of experience leading a marketing, communications, public relations, or related department, successfully motivating staff, managing performance, and achieving aggressive growth goals.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through creative design processes.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Impeccable written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and take initiative.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software (e.g. Trello), with expertise in marketing and communications software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Association Executive (CAE)
• Experience with creative, industrial and/or design fields

Personal Attributes

• Ambitious about career progression and welcomes expanding responsibilities and scopes of work.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Passionate about excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and manage competing demands effectively.
• Not easily overwhelmed by large scopes of responsibility and expanding portfolios of work.
• Able to maintain composure under pressure.

Compensation Package Includes:

• Starting annual salary range of $110,000 - $140,000
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer paid life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid vacation and sick time policy
• IDSA recognizes 12 standard holidays and 1 flexible holiday per year
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) accounts

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit their resume outlining their qualifications and experience with a cover letter and marketing portfolio to https://warrenwhitney.isolvedhire.com/jobs/1403156.

For questions, please contact Eric Wann at ericw@idsa.org.

The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive virtual environment for all employees.

This comprehensive job description ensures that potential candidates understand the scope of responsibilities and the skills required for the role of Senior Director of Brand Strategy.

We encourage candidates to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.